Youth Climate Anxiety: Implications for Litigation

How does coming of age in the Anthropocene affect the mental health of children and young people? A recent global study on the experience of youth around the world with climate anxiety demonstrates in clear terms that the failure of political and corporate leaders to take meaningful action to stem the climate emergency is linked to high levels of psychological distress in children and young people all over the world.This webinar explores the psychological impacts of climate change, particularly on youth, and what these impacts mean for climate litigation and human rights law. In particular, this webinar will address the legal avenues that may be open to climate litigators as a result of this new research on climate anxiety and the psychological harms associated with climate change.

Panelists:

-Dr. Lise Van Susteren, Board-Certified General and Forensic Psychiatrist

-Dr. Natasa Mavronicola, Reader in Law, University of Birmingham Law School; former Special Advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

-Ruth Delbaere, Senior Legal Officer at Avaaz